sullied

Sullied is the past participle of the verb sully and functions as an adjective describing something that has been made dirty or stained. It can refer to physical dirt on objects or surfaces, but is most commonly used in a figurative sense to indicate that a person’s character, reputation, or a name has been dishonored or compromised. In literature and journalism, phrases like “sullied reputation” or “sullied by scandal” are common, often implying a notable or unwelcome breach of trust. The term carries a negative valence and is typically used to emphasize harm or damage rather than mere impurity.

Etymology: sully comes from Old French souiller meaning to dirty; the sense of moral or reputational staining developed in English usage over time. The form “sullied” has been in use since the early modern period.

Usage notes: Sullied should be used when the emphasis is on damage to integrity rather than on neutral dirt. It is somewhat stronger than “stained” and can be less forceful than “tainted” or “corrupted,” depending on context. Collocations include sullied water, sullied reputation, and sullied name, among others.

Related terms include stain, dirty, taint, tarnish, and contaminate; antonyms include clean, pristine, untarnished, and unsoiled.